Pothole claims 4th life in a week; rider injured

BENGALURU: An 18-year-old girl became the latest victim of deadly potholes. In Tuesday’s incident, a college student who was riding pillion fell off the two-wheeler after a lorry hit the scooter and ran over her on the busy Devanahalli-Doddaballapura Highway. Her friend who was riding the two-wheeler suffered injuries in the accident.

This is the fourth death in the last one week caused by potholes.Police said Veena was a resident of Kundana village in Devanahalli. Vijayalakshmi (19) was riding the two-wheeler. Police said Veena and Vijayalakshmi were students of a private college and they were on their way to meet friends at Doddaballapura.

On Tuesday, around 5.30pm, the duo were passing Shettarahalli when Vijayalakshmi slowed down the scooter to avoid a pothole. A speeding lorry which was behind them hit the two-wheeler. In the impact, Veena, who was riding pillion, fell off the scooter and came under the lorry’s wheel. She died on the spot while passersby rushed Vijayalakshmi to a private hospital.

Following the accident, locals blocked Hosakote and Dobbespet highway to protest against the municipal corporation for not maintaining roads.  
Locals told Express that they  had repeatedly complained to officials to fill potholes. They alleged that officials are responsible for the death of girl.

Police resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse the protesters as vehicles piled up for about 2km as protestors blocked the highway. The lorry driver escaped after the incident and police filed a case against him on the charges of reckless driving.On Sunday, 52-year-old Radha Anjanappa died when she fell of a scooter and came under the wheels of a lorry near Nayandahalli.